Magnetic Resonance Imaging Or Spectroscopy Patents (Class 600/410)
  • Patent number: 10542957
    Abstract: According to embodiment, an x-ray computed tomography apparatus includes a gantry apparatus. The gantry apparatus includes a housing, at least one light projector, and a transmission film. The housing has a bore through which an object is inserted, and a scan mechanism for x-ray CT imaging. The light projector is provided inside the housing and configured to emit a visible light beam. The transmission film is attached to an inner wall of the housing that faces the bore, and allows the visible light beam emitted from the light projector to pass through. The transmission film has a color in a wavelength band that allows the visible light beam to pass through, and reduces the visibility of the inside of the housing from the outside, where the wavelength band excludes a wavelength of a color of the visible light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Sawanobori, Yanji Sun
  • Patent number: 10539638
    Abstract: In a method for the optimization of multiple scan protocols for at least one magnetic resonance examination is performed by a magnetic resonance apparatus, patient data for at least one patient are recorded that includes the selection of two or more different measurements, each including at least one scan protocol, which includes at least one magnetic resonance examination. An optimized sequence of the multiple scan protocols for the two or more different measurements for the at least one magnetic resonance examination is determined by a protocol optimization computer. The optimized sequence of the multiple protocols is presented at a display monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: David Grodzki
  • Patent number: 10534060
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to effect improved parallel MR imaging with reduced unfolding artifacts by using either or both of: (a) an unfolded “intermediate” diagnostic image to create a more accurate mask for use in further processing raw image data for final unfolded diagnostic images; and/or (b) an extension of coil sensitivity maps by replication (rather than curve-fitted extrapolation) for use in final unfolding of diagnostic images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wayne R. Dannels
  • Patent number: 10534054
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence control circuitry. The sequence control circuitry applies an MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulse over a plurality of slices under a gradient magnetic field and configured to apply, for each of the plurality of slices to which the MT pulse is applied, an RF pulse having a frequency corresponding to a resonance frequency of certain protons in each of the plurality of slices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Xiangzhi Zhou
  • Patent number: 10531812
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire images of a subject having inconsistencies in a cardiac cycle of the subject. The process includes receiving an identification of a predetermined point in a cardiac cycle of the subject and, thereupon, performing a saturation module configured to dephase magnetization within a region of interest (ROI) from before the predetermined point. The process also includes performing an inversion module configured to invert spins within the ROI and acquiring medical imaging data from the subject. A delay is inserted between the performance of the saturation module and the performance of the inversion module, wherein a duration of the delay is configured, with the saturation module, to control evidence in the medical imaging data of inconsistencies in the cardiac cycle of the subject by controlling a magnetization history of tissue in the ROI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebastian Weingärtner, Mehmet Akçakaya, Warren J. Manning, Reza Nezafat
  • Patent number: 10524689
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in part, methods for high spatiotemporal resolution self-sorted 4D MRI. These methods can be used to improve resolution of abdominothoracic MRI during breathing by facilitating the sorting of information corresponding to individual MRI pulse sequences according to phase within the respiratory cycle. An image of the anatomy for a particular phase within the respiratory cycle is then determined using both information corresponding to the particular phase and high-frequency MR imaging information corresponding to other respiratory phases. This method provides an increase in image resolution by sharing information at high frequencies in k-space, which may be less thoroughly sampled during any particular respiratory phase, between different respiratory phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Ergys Subashi, Jing Cai
  • Patent number: 10517504
    Abstract: A system and method for automating an appropriate voxel prescription in a uniquely definable region of interest (ROI) in a tissue of a patient is provided, such as for purpose of conducting magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the ROI. The dimensions and coordinates of a single three dimensional rectilinear volume (voxel) within a single region of interest (ROI) are automatically identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Nocimed, Inc.
    Inventors: John Patrick Claude, James C. Peacock, III, Paul H. Kane
  • Patent number: 10517509
    Abstract: A method for the assessment of the lung parenchyma in a human or an animal is indicated using a series of magnetic resonance (MR) images of the lung parenchyma acquired at different breathing positions in the same human or animal. The method comprises at least the steps of a.) estimating a change of the lung volume VL between the different breathing positions, b.) determining a signal intensity SI({right arrow over (x)}i) in at least one same region or position {right arrow over (x)}i of the lung parenchyma for each of the MR images, and c.) determining at least one respiratory index ?({right arrow over (x)}i) according to the formula ? ? ( x ? i ) = - d ? ( log ? ( SI ? ( x ? i ) ) ) d ? ( log ? ( V L ) ) . ( Fig .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITATSSPITAL BASEL
    Inventors: Oliver Bieri, Orso Andrea Pusterla, Grzegorz Bauman
  • Patent number: 10509088
    Abstract: An MR apparatus 100 performs a sequence for acquiring an echo train from a subject. The MR apparatus 100 comprises upper-limit-value determining unit for determining an upper limit value etl_max for the echo train length based on a value X1 and a value X2, the value X1 including echo spacing ESP and a lower limit value TEz_max for a maximum echo time. The MR apparatus 100 further comprises unit for obtaining an echo train length based on the upper limit value etl_max for the echo train length and a number of views ypoint in which data acquisition is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Tomoda, Masanori Ozaki
  • Patent number: 10499830
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance system, useful for imaging a patient, comprising: (a) a magnetic resonance device (MRD) for imaging a patient, comprising an open bore, the MRD at least partially contained in an envelope comprising in its circumference at least one recess; and, (b) an MRI-safe cart made of MRI-safe material, comprising a substantially horizontal base and at least one substantially horizontal incubator above the base, the base and the incubator are interconnected by at least one pillar. At least a portion of the cart and the MRD are configured to fit together such that at least a portion of the incubator is reversibly housed within the MRD, and further at least a portion of the base is reversibly housed within at least one recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Aspect Imaging Ltd.
    Inventor: Uri Rapoport
  • Patent number: 10488480
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating quantitative parameters of a subject from data acquired using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. MR data acquired with an MRI system is provided, which represents a plurality of different signal evolutions acquired using different acquisition parameter settings. An initial dictionary comprising a plurality of signal templates is generated that coarsely sample acquisition parameters used when acquiring the provided MR data. The MR data is compared with the initial dictionary. The quantitative parameters associated with an entry in the initial dictionary are stored as the estimated quantitative parameters when the comparison satisfies a threshold criterion and the initial dictionary is updated when the comparison does not satisfy the threshold criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventor: Ouri Cohen
  • Patent number: 10489874
    Abstract: A computer implemented system for steganography comprises an encoding machine for encoding secret data into a cover image to generate the steganography image, and a decoding machine for extracting the secret data from the steganography image. The encoding machine comprises a first memory, a first processor, an input module and an encoder module. The decoding machine comprises a second memory, a second processor, a receiver module, and a decoder module. The system has a comparatively lower error rate (approx. 19.5-21.5 percent) than the conventional steganography method Optimal Pixel Adjustment Procedure (OPAP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ZENSAR TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Paritosh Hemchandra Chandorkar
  • Patent number: 10478122
    Abstract: A measurement method for brown adipose tissue includes a light input step of inputting near-infrared light from a light input unit into a measurement target portion, a light detection step of detecting light intensity of the near-infrared light having propagated through an interior of the measurement target portion by a light detection unit, and a calculation step of calculating an index value for a BAT amount from an oxygenated hemoglobin concentration or the like of the measurement target portion, which is acquired by near-infrared spectroscopy based on the detection result by the light detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: TOKYO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Takafumi Hamaoka, Shinsuke Nirengi, Masayuki Saito, Takeshi Yoneshiro
  • Patent number: 10467757
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for training a classifier. The method includes: acquiring an original image; determining a candidate target by segmenting the original image based on at least two segmentation models; determining a universal set of features by extracting features from the candidate target; determining a reference subset of features by selecting features from the universal set of features; and determining a classifier by performing classifier training based on the reference subset of features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiyong Wang, Xiangjun Chen
  • Patent number: 10444148
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a material within a sample includes a light emitting unit for directing at least one light beam through the sample. A plurality of units receive the light beam that has passed through the sample and performs a spectroscopic analysis of the sample based on the received light beam. Each of the plurality of units analyze a different parameter with respect to the sample and provide a separate output signal with respect to the analysis. A processor detects the material with respect each of the provided separate output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: NXGEN PARTNERS IP, LLC
    Inventor: Solyman Ashrafi
  • Patent number: 10444315
    Abstract: At least a portion of a body (10) is placed in a main magnetic field Bo within the examination volume of a MR device. The portion of the body (10) is subject to an imaging sequence including one or more RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients to acquire imaging signals. The portion of the body (10) is subject to a navigator sequence applied at least once before, during, or after the imaging sequence. The navigator sequence includes one or more RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients controlled to acquire navigator signals with a single-point or multi-point Dixon technique. Translation and/or rotation and/or shear data reflecting motion of the body are derived from the navigator signals during the acquisition of the imaging signals. The translation and/or rotation and/or shear data are used for adapting the imaging sequence and/or for motion correction during reconstruction of an MR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Gabriele Marianne Beck, Tim Nielsen, Arjan Willem Simonetti, Gwenael Henri Herigault, Mathijs Visser
  • Patent number: 10429473
    Abstract: A method, magnetic resonance imaging computing device, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for producing a slice-selective adiabatic magnetization T2 preparation pulse for magnetic resonance imaging. A pulse control signal including an adiabatic half passage pulse control signal, an adiabatic full passage pulse control signal, and a reverse adiabatic half passage pulse control signal is generated. A plurality of slice-selective linear phase subpulse control signals are generated. The pulse control signal is sampled using the plurality of slice-selective linear phase subpulse control signals to generate a slice-selective adiabatic magnetization T2 preparation control signal. The slice-selective adiabatic magnetization T2 preparation control signal is output to a waveform generator to produce the slice-selective adiabatic magnetization T2 preparation pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
    Inventors: Hadrien Dyvorne, Priti Balchandani
  • Patent number: 10429474
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) tomography apparatus has an array composed of a number n of single coils Ei to acquire reception signals Ii. The tomography apparatus is operated by a method that includes the following steps. For each single coil Ei, a processor determines, or is provided with, an individual reception sensitivity profile in positional space r B1i?(r). An examination subject introduced into the MR tomography apparatus is scanned to acquire reception signals Ii(k) in the frequency domain with the n reception coils Ei. Fourier-transformed signals IFi(r) are determined from the reception signals Ii(k). Complexly corrected signals ?Fi(r) are determined on the basis of the signals IFi(r) and the individual reception sensitivity profiles B1i?(r). A sum signal MR(r) is determined by complex addition of the corrected signals ?Fi(r). Image data of the examination subject are reconstructed on the basis of the sum signal MR(r).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Fautz
  • Patent number: 10420485
    Abstract: Images where the vascular walls are automatically divided are obtained by obtaining two MRI images that reflect different properties of the blood vessel and obtaining the difference between the two images. This can image both the vascular inner and the outer walls, thereby obtaining the exact size of the blood vessel, and the thickness between the vascular inner and outer walls. Therefore, it is possible to stably perform the operation using a stent with an accurate size during the stent procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: GACHON UNIVERSITY OF INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, GIL MEDICAL CENTER
    Inventors: Jun Young Chung, Eung Yeop Kim
  • Patent number: 10408904
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (500), the system includes at least one controller (510) which performs a modified rotated slab excitation (mROSE) sequence for volume selection to exclude portions of a subject under exam which are within the scanning volume and outside of a field-of-view (FOV) so as to reduce foldover artifacts which originate from the excluded portions of the subject under exam, where the mROSE sequence performs volume excitation based upon either optimized symmetrical, minimum-phase, or stretched minimum-phase radio-frequency (RF) pulses in a sagittal plane and encodes the scanning volume in a coronal plane. The controller also performs a chemical-shift sequence including a modified DIXON (mDIXON) sequence for substantially uniform fat/water separation within a FOV which lies within the scanning volume; and/or acquires echo information for reconstructing at least a part of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V., Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Ivan Pedrosa, Ananth Madhuranthakam, Ivan Dimitrov
  • Patent number: 10402726
    Abstract: A method includes receiving an input data set, each entry including multiple features. The method includes receiving a user input identifying a target feature of the multiple features and a target value of the target feature. The method includes determining, one or more correlated features of the multiple features. The method includes providing the input data set to multiple neural networks (including multiple VAEs) to train the multiple neural networks. The method includes generating a simulated data set based on the input data set, each entry including at least the target feature and the one or more correlated features. Values of the one or more correlated features are randomized or pseudorandomized and the target feature is fixed at the target value. The method includes providing the simulated data set to the multiple neural networks to generate output data and displaying a GUI based on the output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: SparkCognition, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Moore, Marissa Wiseman, Daniel P. Meador, James R. Eskew
  • Patent number: 10401463
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of an area (144) of a subject of interest (120) includes issuing a breath-hold command to the subject of interest (120), performing motion detection of the subject of interest (120) to detect a breath-hold condition in the area (144) of the subject of interest (120), upon detection of the breath-hold condition in the area (144) of the subject of interest (120), performing k-space (154) sampling of the area (144) of the subject of interest (120) with a given resolution, processing the k-space (154) samples covering the area (144) of the subject of interest (120) to obtain a MR image of the area (144) of the subject of interest (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Johan Samuel Van Den Brink, Gabriele Marianne Beck
  • Patent number: 10393837
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The system includes a main field magnet generating a main magnetic field B0. Moreover, the system further includes an integrated magnet device. The integrated magnet device has field-shift shield coils and gradient coils. The MRI system further includes a removable insert comprising field-shift shield coils. At least one substrate layer is included in the integrated magnet device to provide mechanical support for the field-shift coils and the gradient coils. Moreover, a cooling mechanism is provided to cool at least some of the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Inventors: Geron Andre Bindseil, Chad Tyler Harris, William Bradfield Handler, Blaine Alexander Chronik
  • Patent number: 10393832
    Abstract: In a method for the optimization of multiple scan protocols for at least one magnetic resonance examination is performed by a magnetic resonance apparatus, patient data for at least one patient are recorded that includes the selection of two or more different measurements, each including at least one scan protocol, which includes at least one magnetic resonance examination. An optimized sequence of the multiple scan protocols for the two or more different measurements for the at least one magnetic resonance examination is determined by a protocol optimization computer. The optimized sequence of the multiple protocols is presented at a display monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: David Grodzki
  • Patent number: 10386442
    Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to execute a pulse sequence to acquire data from an image taking region after applying a pre-pulse in synchronization with a predetermined electrocardiographic waveform of the subject. The processing circuitry is configured to monitor recovery of longitudinal magnetization by acquiring data from a monitor region that is different from the image taking region, by using timing linked with the timing with which the pre-pulse is applied. The processing circuitry is configured to control execution of the pulse sequence on the basis of a signal value of the data from the monitor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Shuhei Bannae
  • Patent number: 10379177
    Abstract: An apparatus for visually monitoring a magnetic resonance scanner situated in a room, which is screened by an RF screen, has a camera and a screen housing in the screened room, a data link, and a receiver outside the screened room. The camera and the receiver each have at least one interface to the data link, which exits the screened room at a room interface that has a filter. The camera and the screen housing are designed so that the screen housing reduces magnetic and/or electrical interaction of the camera with a magnetic field generated by the magnetic resonance scanner. The camera has a field of view for visual detection of at least a part of the magnetic resonance scanner and is configured to generate visual data. The data link transfers the visual data between the camera and the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Biber
  • Patent number: 10362961
    Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”), in which accurate and conspicuous visualization of vascular calcifications and other bony structures can be achieved. An MRI system is operated to perform a pulse sequence that generates substantially similar signal intensity from soft tissues (e.g. muscle, fat, blood) within the body. For instance, blood can be rendered to have a signal intensity that is substantially similar to the vessel wall, while fat and muscle are rendered to appear substantially similar to the vessel wall. With this “neutral” contrast, arterial calcifications, which appear dark due to their low proton density, can be more readily and efficiently visualized by an interpreting physician.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHSHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTHSYSTEM
    Inventors: Ioannis Koktzoglou, Robert R. Edelman
  • Patent number: 10349851
    Abstract: A computerized method comprises statistically analyzing, using one or more processors, at least one section of a digitally recorded electroencephalography (EEG) signal that comprises an arousal segment to determine, for the arousal segment, at least one of amplitude and power at different frequencies as a function of time; selecting specified features from the results of the analysis and normalizing the selected features; and assigning, using one or more processors, an intensity scale value to the arousal segment based on the normalized selected features and a reference data set, the reference data set comprising normalized features corresponding to the normalized selected features and being generated based on a plurality of EEG signals comprising arousal segments to which intensity scale values have been assigned based on a visual inspection of the EEG signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: YRT LIMITED
    Inventors: Magdy Younes, Ali Azarbarzin
  • Patent number: 10352915
    Abstract: A system for detection of a potentially irradiated object utilizing oxygen-17 (17O) quantities in a local atmosphere contacting the potentially irradiated object. The local atmosphere comprises nitrogen-14 (14N) and is typically air. The 17O quantity in the local atmosphere is determined through sampling using mass spectroscopy, nuclear resonance magnetic imaging, gas chromatography, or some other method. The 17O quantity in the local atmosphere is compared to a baseline quantity of 17O and deviations are treated as an indicator that a nuclear reaction converting 14N to 17O has occurred or is occurring. Typically the local atmosphere is isolated to some degree from an external atmosphere via some type of enclosure or container, and the external atmosphere provides the baseline quantity of 17O used for the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Emil Paskalev Kartalov, Raymond M. Gamache
  • Patent number: 10342558
    Abstract: A target treatment apparatus for treating a target region (130) within a subject (140) is provided. The apparatus includes an MRI apparatus (100) for generating MR images during an MR scan of the subject disposed within an examination region (110). The apparatus further includes an MRI localizer (150) for receiving the image data from the MRI apparatus wherein the target (130) is localized and a reference marker localizer (160, 160?) for non-invasively receiving reference data from a plurality of reference points disposed in proximity to the target wherein the reference points are localized. A tracking processor (300) is also included in the apparatus for receiving localized data from the MRI localizer wherein a relationship between the reference markers and the target region is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Michael C. Steckner, Peter Boernert, Kay Nehrke
  • Patent number: 10338166
    Abstract: In order to provide a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus capable of calculating the amount of absorption of electromagnetic waves into the object with high accuracy, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a calculation means for calculating the amount of absorption of electromagnetic waves into the object upon the emission of RF pulses in a part of the object or a bed position where imaging is scheduled; a means for setting imaging conditions, in which the calculated amount of absorption satisfies conditions of the specified value of the amount of absorption of electromagnetic waves, from the relationship between the calculated amount of absorption and the specified value of the amount of absorption of electromagnetic waves; and a bed control device that controls a top plate according to the set imaging conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Sakuragi, Hisako Nagao, Masaharu Ono
  • Patent number: 10339655
    Abstract: A method automatically evaluates x-ray image data from an examination region of a patient. X-ray image data is received from the examination region. Furthermore x-ray image data is segmented and anatomical structures are detected in the individual segments. In addition reference image data that comes closest to the segmented x-ray image data is determined. This process is undertaken on the basis of a comparison of the segmented x-ray image data with reference image data from a reference database. The reference image data of the reference database has quality information relating to the image quality of the reference image data in each case. Finally a decision is made on the basis of the quality information of the established reference image data as to whether the received x-ray image data is to be retained or rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Anna Jerebko, Clemens Joerger, Francois Nolte
  • Patent number: 10326317
    Abstract: A method for foreign object detection for an induction charging device is described, including an oscillator circuit, in particular, for a hand-held power tool, a resonance frequency and an associated actual quality of the oscillator circuit being detected and the actual quality is subsequently compared to a setpoint quality as a function of the resonance frequency and a decision is made about the presence of a foreign object based on a defined setpoint quality range. The method provides that an upper limit and/or a lower limit of the setpoint quality range and the profile of the actual quality are adapted to one another. Also described is an induction charging device including an oscillator circuit and a control and regulating unit for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dragan Krupezevic, Martin Gonda
  • Patent number: 10324153
    Abstract: A system and method for calculating a flip angle schedule is provided. The technique includes selecting an initial condition, providing a function for calculating flip angles, calculating flip angles, assessing the flip angles, and repeating the calculation of the flip angles by adjusting the function until a desired flip angle schedule is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guobin Li, Chaohong Wang
  • Patent number: 10319102
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according an exemplary embodiment of the present invention estimates for a plurality of positions in a target image an estimated value of an error in registration for acquiring a third three-dimensional image by deforming at least one of a first three-dimensional image of a subject and a second three-dimensional image, one of the three-dimensional images being the target image, designates a cross section in the target image, acquires a statistical value of the error in the designated cross section based on the estimated value estimated for a plurality of positions in the cross section, and displays the statistical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Endo, Kiyohide Satoh, Yasufumi Asao, Yohei Hashizume
  • Patent number: 10319147
    Abstract: Performing volume rendering in a virtual reality environment by applying an adapted Monte Carlo integration, grid accelerator-based view ray tracing, image filtering, and user-movement detected adapted frame compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: ARIVIS AG
    Inventors: Falko Löffler, Baul Bönisch, Christian Götze, Andreas Suchanek
  • Patent number: 10307076
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting collagen within tissue using magnetic resonance imaging. In some embodiments, pulse sequences are employed to measure signals at multiple TE values including ultra-short echo times, and the TE dependence of the measured signal is fitted to a mathematical function including at least two decay terms, where the first (initial) decay term is modulated and is associated with the presence of collagen. In another example embodiment, spectroscopy or spectroscopic imaging is employed to measure the free induction decay within at least one region of interest, and the time-dependence of the measured signal is fitted to a mathematical function including at least two decay terms, where the first decay term is modulated and is associated with the presence of collagen. In some embodiments, the methods described herein may be employed for the detection and/or assessment of myocardial fibrosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Sunnybrook Research Institute
    Inventors: Adrienne Grace Siu, Graham A. Wright
  • Patent number: 10311978
    Abstract: A method and system for patient-specific planning of cardiac therapy, such as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), based on preoperative clinical data and medical images, such as ECG data, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, and ultrasound data, is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical model of the left and right ventricles is generated from medical image data of a patient. A patient-specific computational heart model, which comprises cardiac electrophysiology, biomechanics and hemodynamics, is generated based on the patient-specific anatomical model of the left and right ventricles and clinical data. Simulations of cardiac therapies, such as CRT at one or more anatomical locations are performed using the patient-specific computational heart model. Changes in clinical cardiac parameters are then computed from the patient-specific model, constituting predictors of therapy outcome useful for therapy planning and optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Tommaso Mansi, Bogdan Georgescu, Xudong Zheng, Ali Kamen, Dorin Comaniciu
  • Patent number: 10299669
    Abstract: A method for accessing the interior of a joint, wherein the joint comprises tissue which defines a boundary of the joint, the tissue comprising an interior surface facing toward the interior of the joint and an exterior surface facing away from the interior of the joint, the method comprising: providing a light-emitting needle assembly comprising a hollow needle having a light source at the distal end thereof; and observing the interior surface of the tissue from the interior of the joint as the needle approaches the exterior surface of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Pivot Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Hamel
  • Patent number: 10302728
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a signal transceiver, and a sequence controller configured to control the signal transceiver to apply an RF pulse and a gradient magnetic field to a first portion of an object, wait for blood to flow from the first portion of the object to which the RF pulse and the gradient magnetic field are applied, to a second portion of the object, and apply the RF pulse and the gradient magnetic field to the second portion of the object to which the blood flows, using a 3D balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP), and subsample first magnetic resonance data from the second portion of the object to which the RF pulse and the gradient magnetic field are applied. The apparatus further includes an image processor configured to generate label image data based on the first magnetic resonance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-young Hwang, Joon-soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10303986
    Abstract: A decision-support system and computer implemented method automatically measures the midline shift in a patient's brain using Computed Tomography (CT) images. The decision-support system and computer implemented method applies machine learning methods to features extracted from multiple sources, including midline shift, blood amount, texture pattern and other injury data, to provide a physician an estimate of intracranial pressure (ICP) levels. A hierarchical segmentation method, based on Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), is used. In this approach, first an Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) ventricle template, as prior knowledge, is used to estimate the region for each ventricle. Then, by matching the ventricle shape in CT images to the MRI ventricle template set, the corresponding MRI slice is selected. From the shape matching result, the feature points for midline estimation in CT slices, such as the center edge points of the lateral ventricles, are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Inventors: Kayvan Najarian, Wenan Chen, Kevin R. Ward
  • Patent number: 10302714
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically designing RF pulses using a reinforcement machine-learnt classifier. Data representing an object and a selected outcome is accessed. A reinforcement learnt method identifies the RF pulse sequence that generates a result within a predefined value of the selected outcome. An MRI scanner images the object using the RF pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Xiao Chen, Mariappan S. Nadar, Benjamin L. Odry, Boris Mailhe
  • Patent number: 10302726
    Abstract: This invention provides an image processing method and apparatus for reconstructing an image of a site of a subject. The image processing method comprises: generating a first estimated phase of each shot of multiple shots of the site by sensitivity encoding based on shot data of the corresponding shot obtained for the site; reconstructing a first multiplexed sensitivity encoded image based on the first estimated phase of each shot and shot data of each shot; generating a second estimated phase of each shot of the multiple shots by regularized sensitivity encoding using the first multiplexed sensitivity encoded image; and reconstructing a second multiplexed sensitivity encoded image based on the second estimated phase of each shot and shot data of each shot. In this way, the quality of the finally reconstructed image in magnetic resonance imaging is further improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Feng Huang, Hua Guo, Zhe Zhang, Bi Da Bd Zhang
  • Patent number: 10295640
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for generating motion-corrected magnetic resonance measurement data, reference data and measurement data are acquired from multiple sub-regions of an examination region of a subject, and first and second items of movement information are respectively generated for the respective sub-regions, and motion-corrected data for the respective sub-regions is generated by transforming k-space data using the first and second items of movement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Beck
  • Patent number: 10295487
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for measuring temperatures and pHs of a sample in situ using NMR spectroscopy, and for sealing one or more ends of a capillary tube after a reference material has been added to the capillary tube, which is used in an in situ NMR temperature measurement device. A method for measuring a pH of a sample in situ using NMR spectroscopy includes providing an in situ NMR pH measurement device. This device includes a sample housing member configured to house a target sample, at least one pH sensor configured to exhibit an NMR spectral change due to a change in pH value of the target sample, and a pH sensor containment member configured to house the at least one pH sensor. The target sample is added to the sample housing member. NMR spectra are obtained to then determine the pH of the target sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Ming Huang, Lingyu Chi, Rex E. Gerald, II, Jie Huang, Annalise R. Pfaff, Klaus Woelk
  • Patent number: 10292670
    Abstract: A system and method for simulating energy transport between particles and an object in radiotherapy is provided. A three-dimensional representation, having a plurality of voxels, is generated for a portion of a patient to be treated. A material index for each of the plurality of voxels is determined. The material index has an identifier for a first boundary material corresponding to a voxel and a percentage of the voxel associated with a second boundary material. The method further comprises simulating energy transport between a particle and the object by calculating an amount of energy deposited by a particle within the patient based on the material indices of the voxels and a list of boundary materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Elekta Ltd.
    Inventor: Sami Hissoiny
  • Patent number: 10288703
    Abstract: A method for accelerating magnetic resonance imaging is proposed. In 3D MRI, the method utilizes two sub-echo-trains in each repetition time for the simultaneous acquisition of two contrasts. The first sub-echo-train is a turbo spin echo train and the second sub-echo-train is a gradient echo train. The method acquires two different contrasts simultaneously in a single acquisition, for example one water image plus one fat image, or one turbo spin echo image plus one susceptibility weighted image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg
    Inventors: Guobin Li, Maxim Zaitsev, Juergen Hennig
  • Patent number: 10285639
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, non-transitory computer-readable medium, and systems for determining an estimate of fat within a volume of a subject by determining a parameter ? from the signal intensities of at least three echo signals emitted from a region of the volume of a subject imaged by a magnetic resonance image scanner in response to an applied RF pulse, wherein the three echo signals are taken at a first opposing-phase echo time, a second opposing-phase echo time and an in-phase echo time; and determining a fat volume fraction, f, from the parameter ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Resonance Health Analysis Services Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Timothy Guy St Pierre, Sander Jonathan Bangma, Michael J. House
  • Patent number: 10285657
    Abstract: A diagnosis support device, which is suitable for comparing different diseases, is provided, along with others. In the diagnosis support device, the input of an MRI brain image of a subject is received, and a shrinkage score, which represents the degree of shrinkage of the brain, is calculated based on the MRI brain image. Subsequently, sites to be compared in the brain are identified. Then, a degree of shrinkage, which represents the degree of shrinkage of each of the identified sites, and a shrinkage ratio, which is the ratio between the degrees of shrinkage of the sites, are calculated, and then compared and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsutaro Ono, Tomoaki Goto, Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10275875
    Abstract: A method for automatically and dynamically optimizing image acquisition parameters/commands of an imaging procedure performed by a medical imaging apparatus in order to mitigate or cancel dynamic effects perturbing the image acquisition process of an object to be imaged by the medical imaging apparatus. The method includes connecting a dynamic correction module (DCM) to the medical imaging apparatus, automatically acquiring by the DCM image acquisition parameters/commands and data about dynamic changes or effects, and automatically determining in real time, by the DCM, at least one new image acquisition parameter/command from the image acquisition parameters/commands defined in the imaging control system and the dynamic change data, while the image acquisition parameter/command defined in the imaging control system remains unchanged. The method further includes automatically providing, by the DCM, the new image acquisition parameter/command to the hardware control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Himanshu Bhat, Thorsten Feiweier, Tobias Kober, Carsten Prinz, Daniel Nico Splitthoff, Stephan Stoecker